Ascent Trip Report

We drove 6.3 mi north along the paved Bowman Lake Road after turning off Hwy 20, then turned right (east) at the Grouse Ridge Road sign for almost another 6-mi of 2-wheel-drive (bumpy) dirt road to parking area below locked gate going up to Grouse Ridge (see Grouse Ridge peak climb for GPS route). After hiking to the top, we drove a bit back and hiked up the obvious dirt trail going directly toward Black Butte, but the trail disappeared into a steep class 2 drop-off. It was then we spotted the Sand Hill trail to the north, went back, into the campground, and found the Sanford Trail going out from the furthest campsite. The kids pooped out after a mile or so and didn't even want to hike up to Sand Hill, but they wanted to hike cross-country to Downley Lake. I let them lead the way around the moderate brush and rocks, which wasn't even enough to get us scratched up, until we got to the lake and went for a swim. While it was still light,I found the side trail which led back to the main trail and back to the car.

Summary Total Data

Elevation Gain:

1000 ft / 303 m

Elevation Loss:

1000 ft / 303 m

Distance:

3.7 mi / 6 km

Grade/Class:

Cl 1

Route Conditions:

Maintained Trail

Ascent Statistics

Elevation Gain:

300 ft / 90 m

Extra Loss:

200 ft / 60 m

Distance:

1.7 mi / 2.7 km

Route:

Sandford Trail/Glacier Lake Trail

Trailhead:

primitive campground off Grouse Ridge Road 6940 ft / 2115 m

Descent Statistics

Elevation Loss:

800 ft / 243 m

Extra Gain:

700 ft / 213 m

Distance:

2 mi / 3.2 km

Route:

Sandford Trail/Glacier Lake Trail

Trailhead:

primitive campground off Grouse Ridge Road 6940 ft / 2115 m

GPS Data for Ascent/Trip

GPS Waypoints - Hover or click to see name and lat/longPeaks: climbed and unclimbed by John E SarnaClick Here for a Full Screen MapNote: GPS Tracks may not be accurate, and may not show the best route. Do not follow this route blindly. Conditions change frequently. Use of a GPS unit in the outdoors, even with a pre-loaded track, is no substitute for experience and good judgment. Peakbagger.com accepts NO responsibility or liability from use of this data.